Motorization Is Not Just For Shades

Our Motorization Event has been going strong and it continues until September 11, 2017. So if you are building a new home or in the process of a Home Renovation or updating to new window coverings, you might consider using Power.

Introducing PowerView Motorization only from Hunter Douglas.

PowerView Motorization is the Future. With Builders putting in more and more windows and even adding upper windows, PowerView will add ease of operation. These Window Shades are powered by battery or if you are in the building stage, you can add wiring at the windows. We would be happy to give you some insight as to how this can be done and walk you through the process. Or you can also read back through the past few Blogs to learn more about PowerView.

But we are not only adding Power to Shades and Shadings, we can also help you with Motorizated Drapery Treatments.

We recently helped a client in Southlake with their master bedroom. They have 2 windows on the side wall where we installed New Style Shutters made by Hunter Douglas. The back window, though, is where we had more of a challenge. The window is actually a sliding door and the view to the back yard is beautiful so we wanted to open this up with draperies. The client wanted to easily open the draperies so we installed them using a Drapery Rod that is operated with power. They love the ease of operation opening the bedroom to the outdoors!

Where to find Motorization in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.

Stop in today at Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake. Our Designers can help you with Shades by Hunter Douglas using PowerView Motorization and can also help you with custom Window Treatments and these can be powered as well. There are so many fabrics to choose from and many rod selections too. We can walk you through the steps to help you get acquainted with Motorization.

We service Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Southlake and all areas in between

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Indoor/Outdoor Spaces

Blending your indoor and outdoor living spaces enhances summer enjoyment.

A seamless transition will extend your indoor environment, creating an outdoor living area that feels like an extension of your indoor space. This makes for a seamless and unified transition. It’s a synthesis of style that blends outdoor and indoor living. 

If you focus on your outdoor living space as much as your indoor design style, you’ll gain a welcoming look that makes it easy to glide effortlessly from indoors to outdoors and back. You’ll find that you use your outdoor space more, whether it’s a deck, terrace, garden or large backyard. 

So many materials work well both for indoors and out, including teak, stainless steel, rattan, wicker, easy-care fabrics, glass and more.  Focus on beauty, as well as function, for your outdoor living elements, so they don’t look like an afterthought, but rather a design style that’s coordinated with your interior decorating plan. 

Some design ideas to link your adjacent indoor and outdoor spaces include:

• Use similar colors, materials and styles inside and out. 

• Introduce a few soft surfaces outdoors, such as rugs, throw pillows and soft upholstery. 

• Hang soft, translucent window fashions that make the outdoors look closer. 

• Add matching accent pieces indoors and out, including table linens, lanterns, candles and flower arrangements. 

• Plan adequate sun covering outdoors, using umbrellas, awnings or a built shading structure, so you’re willing to keep the windows and window treatments open without sun damage to furniture and floors. 

• Use ceramic stools, durable tables and easy-clean dining chairs that you can move in and out as the need arises.

• Use Corradi Outdoor Screen Shades to keep the bugs off while enjoying the fresh air.

Bring your outdoor and indoor living spaces together for summer relaxation with family and friends.

Design Studio Roman Shades.... you have got to see the new fabrics!!!

Get creative with new custom soft Roman shades from The Hunter Douglas Design Studio Collecion. Choose from four distinctive styles, each designed and crafted with Hunter Douglas quality and innovation. Explore the New and Exclusive collection of artfully curated fabrics - sophisticated textures, patterns, stripes, rich solids and sheers. We have added many fabrics with updated colors and designs. Reflect your personal style by adding coordinating valances, tapes and trims, making your windows truly unique. Hunter Douglas Design Studio Roman Shades Redefined.

At Hunter Douglas, the difference is in the details. Design Studio fabrics are woven in widths that allow shades to be made up to 96" wide without being interrupted by seams. Every shade offers high quality construction. Our innovative cording system reduces access to the rear cords for enhanced child safety. Clear rings coordinate with all lining and sheers, stiff battens provide structure, bartender tunnels are sewn to keep battens from slipping out and all hems are double-turned for a custom finished look with bottom hems weighted for a smooth appearance.

 The Roman Shade Styles

Batten Front Roman Shades are characterized by battens or tunnels sewn at regular intervals on the front facing side of the shade. The clean, dimensional lines of this style work well in all environments. When a stripe or pattern fabric is selected, batten front is a great choice because the battens on the front won't interfere with the pattern.

Batten Back Roman Shades have inverted tunnels that create a soft, tailored look when lowered and defined folds when raised. This simple style requires the least amount of dressing when raising or lowering the shade... looking great in any position.

Flat Roman Shades have no horizontal seams or stitching across the face of the shade making them the best choice for showing off large-scaled patterns and striped fabrics. 

Hobbled is a classic style defined by soft fabric folds which cascade from top to bottom. Design Studio Hobbled Shades have a unique, triple-layered fabric construction with a double lining, providing unsurpassed energy efficiency.

Refine Your Style

Do you require privacy? Room darkening? Or would you like the light to gently filter into your room?The uniquely edited collection of Design Studio fabrics work for all your windows, whatever the need. You have a choice of lift system-Cord-lock, continuous Cord, Ultraglide lift system and PowerView only from Hunter Douglas.

We recently helped a customer in Plano. Her family room sliding Doors look out onto her pool patio and beyond to a wooded area. She wanted to be able to raise her shades to give her full view of the beautiful spot so we decided the best solution for this project was Design Studio Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas. For ease of operation we selected the PowerView Motorization. She used the Hub and set the shades so that they raise to a certain spot every morning and lower every evening. For an additional touch be added a custom cornice to cover all shades using a textured fabric. This was a solution both the customer and I love.

Let Read Design Southlake or Read Design Plano help you with you next custom window fashion project. Our Designers will be happy to come out to your home and give you ideas. If you are wanting just shades, shutters, blinds or are wanting to add Drapery Panels or Valances and Cornice boards, we will help you find the perfect solution.

We service these areas - Plano, Southlale, Dallas, Fort Worth and all areas in between!

March Into Spring......

          With window coverings by Hunter Douglas and Custom Draperies by Read Design

We can see the start of warm weather ahead of us and it is time to freshen up your home just in time for Spring. What better way then changing out your window coverings or adding Custom Window Treatments?! I love to open the windows at the beginning of Spring and see Nature in it's glory and to smell the freshness of Spring.

A great way to open up your home is to update your window coverings.

Silhouette, Pirouette, and Roman Shades

When customers ask us what we would do to open up a room, we always suggest shades. These include Silhouettes, Pirouettes, Roman Shades and Roller Shades all from Hunter Douglas. These are products where you can easily lift them all the way up and let the sun shine in.  

Silhouette transforms light. Like the subtle cast their name suggests, Silhouette window shadings with the Signature S-Vane, creates beautiful and ambient light and shadow. Soft fabric vanes are suspended between two sheers, diffusing softened light deep into a room. Tilt the vanes to achieve the privacy you desire while maintaining UV protection. These shades can easily be rolled all the way into a cassette to give full view of the outside.

Stringing design, dramatically filtered light. With Pirouette window shadings, the look and feel of a traditional fabric shade is enhanced, the gentle pull of a cord lets you change a room's lighting in a whole new way. Soft, horizontal fabric vanes close to filter natural light, or open to give you a perfect outside view. Our revolutionary invisi-Lift system allows the vanes to float gracefully. Even when opened they offer UV protection and reduced glare through the sheer backing.

Vignette and Design Studio Roman Shades offer a simple, uncluttered, look. Luxurious fabrics and soft folds give the shades a clean, crisp look. The range of styles can help you create a warm, inviting, and beautiful space. With so many fabric color and texture options, there is something for any style of home.

Sophisticated but uncomplicated is how we describe Roller Shades. For a look that is both custom and classic, our Designer Roller Shades offer a clean appearance in a beautiful range of fabrics and have a variety of design options and operating systems.  

There other Shades from Hunter Douglas that also fit this bill including Duette Honeycomb Shades, Provenance Woven Shades, and Solera Soft Shade. All of these designs are beautiful and dynamic. 

Stop in to see us at Read Design in Southlake or Plano and let one of our designers help you select the perfect shade for your home. Because we are a full service Interior Design Studio, we can help you with Custom Window Treatments. We can even pair them to Hunter Douglas Shades. With the thousands of fabrics available, we are sure that we can find the perfect fit for your home.  Here are just a few ideas.

Don't Forget! March is Motorization Month! Ask us about PowerView!

We service all of the following areas: Garland, Richardson, Farmer's Branch, Dallas, Rockwall, Fortworth, Plano, Frisco, Southlake, Westlake, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Denton, Celina, Prosper, Allen, McKinney and every where in between!

March is Motorization Month......

....  And it all starts with Hunter Douglas!!!

Meet Powerview Motorization from Hunter Douglas

Our new motorized operating system lets you customize your perfect combination of light, privacy, and warmth, keeping your home perfectly in sync with time of day and mood. Create personalized Scenes, schedule automatic operation or operate window treatments remotely - all from your mobile device. PowerView Motorizations takes fashion in motion to a brilliant new level.

Stay in Tune with your Environment

With out PowerView Pebble Remote, choreograph exactly how the light will play throughout the home. It's the ultimate control in the palm of your hand. Ergonomically designed, the PowerView Pebble is the perfect fusion of form and function and it comes in seven trending colors to fit your design.

Smarter Shades from Your Smart Device

Our intuitive PowerView App for Apple and Android mobile devices is designed to complement your lifestyle. Create Scenes to balance different lighting and privacy needs throughout the day. Adjust window treatments for temperature, privacy and security from across the room or across the world, using the RemoteConnect feature in the PowerView App from Hunter Douglas.

Innovation That's Fashion Forward

The Art of Window Dressing is always supported by Great Design. A wide selection of sophisticated PowerView motorized products, styles, fabrics, and colors ensure that when you poor for convenience you won't ever sacrifice look. It is the evolution of fashion in motion.

Powerview Motorization is available on many Hunter Douglas products including Australia Woven Textures, Applause Honeycomb Shades, Design Studio Roman Shades, Designer Roller Shades, Designer Screen Shades, Duette Honeycomb Shades, Luminette Privacy Shades, Nantucket Window Shades, Pirouette Window Shadings, Pleated Shades,  Provenance Woven Wood Shades, Silhouette Window Shadings, Skyline Gliding Window Panels, Solera Soft Shades, and Vignette Modern Roman Shades.

But Motorization does not stop there!!

Read Design is a full service Interior Design Studio and can help you with Custom Window treatments including Draperies, Valances, Cornice Boards, and Custom Roman Shades. We can Motorize Roman Shades using any of our any of our fabrics. This is perfect if you want a fabric in a pattern that will go perfect with your design scheme. There are limits, though, to the size of shade we can motorize. The custom Roman Shades can be battery operated or A/C plug in. 

We also have Drapery Rods that can be motorized. This is a perfect solution when you want draperies but have very large and tall windows. With the push of a button your drapery panels will open to a beautiful view. With Custom Draperies we can help you select the right fabric for your home and design.

With whole home automation on the rise, we are more excited than ever for our compatibly with automation technologies such as Elan, Control 4, Nest, IFTTT, Logitech, The Amazon Echo and more! Learn more here! Visit our showroom and test moving our shades with the help of Alexa.  

Where to find Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization

Call or Stop in Read Design today. We have TWO convenient locations, one in Plano and one in Southlake. Our Designers are here to walk you through all of the options that are available when it comes to Window Treatments. We are THE Premier Hunter Douglas Gallery and Interior Design Studio. We can show you all of the latest fabric and color trends and current styles. And we can introduce you to Window Covering Automation and it all starts with PowerView Motorization from Hunter Douglas.

We service all of these areas including. Plano, Southlake, Grapevine, Allen, Irving, Prosper, Colleyville, Frisco, Robson Ranch, Highland Park, Flower Mound, Richardson, Westlake, Celina, Keller, Carrollton, Northlake, Farmers Branch, Arlington, Trophy Club, Rockwell, Mabank, and everywhere in between.

Stop in today It is Motorization Love your Home Month.

972.608.4999 Plano

817.416.7164 Southlake

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Simple Style

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A clean and simple design style can make your life less stressful. 

The look of your home can give you peace of mind and a sense of calm. Many of us have feelings of stress because we’re overwhelmed by the demands in our lives. What better goal to consider in your home decorating plans than to create a home environment that’s calming and relaxing, both on the eyes and on the soul. 

Simple doesn’t mean plain or unattractive. Simple design can create a sophisticated, traditional, elegant look or a modern, minimalist feel. The bottom line is reducing chaos and over-decoration, and minimizing clutter and confusion.

• Plan only one or two focal points per room, so you can really “see” the beauty, rather than having a hodge podge of color and design elements. 

• Limit the number of colors in your design and stick with gentle colors, rather than bold primary colors. 

• Make color transitions gentle. Avoid making too strong a statement between dark and light colors, such as black and white. (However, keep in mind that you may want energizing colors in a room; for example, in a kitchen or home office where you’d like to be engaged and active.)

Once you’ve created a simple, clean design, enjoy it! Allow yourself relaxing time to read a book or watch your favorite TV show, without answering the phone or responding to text messages. Spend time with your family or friends in a quiet way, without over planning your activities. 

Achieving a calm and simple home environment can help you find peace of mind every day. 

11 Budget Friendly Tricks Interior Designers Use to Create Luxurious Looking Spaces

Dotted throughout the United States are master planned communities made up of homes that are identical to each other. As each home resembles the one next to it, it becomes more desirable to have an interior that is unique and offers a perception of affluence. We all want to have our homes look like that of high end professionally decorated mansions, but often lack the funds to achieve it. Living in a space that looks expensive and is easy on the budget does not have to be out of reach. Anyone can have dapper dwellings with a few careful considerations.

1. Crown Molding

A space that lacks crown molding tends to look average. The lack of detailing tying the walls and ceiling together gives a space an unfinished cheapened look. For very little money, crown molding applied to the walls provides richness to the space. When picking out molding opt for a wide trim for more impact. In fact the wider the trim, the more expensive the room can look.

2. Paint

The toughest decision anytime you decorate can be what color to paint a space. Opting for either a crisp white or high pigment paint in a neutral hue will lend an air of sophistication and affluence to the room. Neutral walls allow for the rotation of accent colors seasonally if desired. Another easy trick that really adds that lux finish to a home is to paint interior doors black. It will instantly give the space an expensive vibe; just be sure to tie the doors to the rest of the decor with other uses of black accents. 

3. Pillows

Throw pillows are always a fabulous accessory for your sofa, loveseat or oversized chair. A collection of small store bought pillows appears to be trying too hard and shouts unoriginal and cheap. First, they are not quite big enough to be impactful and are too small to be of any real benefit. Secondly, if the goal is to look luxurious, pillows that any home can have defeats that idea. So ignore the 12-18 inch pillows that you can pick up at the local home store. Opt instead for the larger 22 inch pillow covers and stuff them with 24 inch inserts. The overstuffed pillows offer that luxurious feel you desire. 

4. Window Treatments

The options for window treatments are endless and cross many price points. It is best to spend moderately on the best quality you can afford. Avoid flimsy curtains and ones that are unlined, there are two telltale signs of poor quality. Sure, the price might be nice, but you want your room to look elegant and expensive right? Instead of buying them right off the rack at the local home store, find a selection at a specialty fabric store. Their experts can help you create window treatments within your budget that will looks like you spent a lot more for them. Once you have picked out your curtains, hang them as close to the ceiling as you can to draw your eye up and project the illusion of fullness. Curtains hung just above the window tend to look sparse.

5. Hardware Finishes

Most tract homes built come with very standard hardware finishes. They are generally cheap, in both cost and appearance. Builders use these bulk items, as they are more cost effective to use, but not always the best for a homeowner desiring a more custom look. Oddly enough, hardware is also not that expensive to replace with more personalized options. Change out the drawer pulls in the kitchen and replace them with more unique pieces. You can find them at any hardware store, specialty shop or even at a flea market. The goal is to locate ones you love and not mirror your next door neighbors. You can change out the builders basic faucet for something more interesting as well. Any good plumbing shop can work within your budget too.

6. Lighting

Just as with hardware, lighting is another one of those builders standard accessories that lack personality, character and style. Toss out nondescript chandeliers and ceiling fans; replace them with a unique designer look. There is not need to shop the high end lighting store, try scouring a flea market or second hand store for a budget friendly piece. A bargain found on a chandelier goes a long way toward creating the expensive designer inspired look. The right one may even have your friends talking! Add table lamps and floor lamps in each room, too. Lighting of any kind will also create an expensive look and feel.

7. Hardwood

While wall to wall carpet is soft and ward underfoot, it does not lend itself to a lavish look. Hardwood, on the other hand, provides that classic visual appeal. It seems like a budget buster, but it will last for years making the investment well worth it, especially if you compare it to replacing carpeting every few years. Hard wood comes in many types of wood and some are more luxurious than others. Opt for a dark wood that will add richness to the space, similar to the idea of painting your interior doors black. You can layer a beautiful area rug on top of the wood flooring to anchor the room and tie design elements together.

8. Accessories

Gold, often considered synonymous with heath, can actually appear rather tawdry. Gilded frames, gold baubles and brass lighting can be tacky when all used together. The color can be hard on the eyes while trying too hard to provide a luxurious look. Silver, chrome and brushed nickel are easier on the eyes and offer a truly polished look. Trade out those old gold frames for some new silver ones; replace that brass table lamp with a brushed nickel lamp and sell the gold at your next yard sale. Silver will also help to reflect light better than gold will, adding to the look you want to achieve. 

9. Furniture

Furniture is usually the single largest investment made in a room, but not always an area that one can invest in heavily. Yet, spending money on cheap poorly made furniture will cost more in the long run. Instead, try shopping secondhand stores, consignment shops and estate sales for well constructed pieces to be reupholstered. This will give you the opportunity to customize your look for a fraction of the cost.

10. Housekeeping

As Albert Hadley once said, "There's no point in creating something beautiful for someone who is a slob." We have to agree! The easiest and least expensive way to make a home look posh is to keep it cleaned. Dust and vacuum weekly, avoid clutter and your home will shine. All of the other touches will stand out and be noticed. Isn't that the whole point of a designer like home?

Finally Number 11.

Window treatments by Hunter Douglas. An attractive window and the right light can change everything - from your room to your mood. Hunter Douglas has mastered the art of window dressing by engineering innovative functions into stylish, versatile looks for every window in your home. Try Hunter Douglas Roller Shades for in inexpensive product that will look like a million bucks!

So you can see it does not take a lot to achieve an expensive look. Just follow these tips and tricks and you too can have a great looking home on reasonable budget.  How do you give your home a designer look on a dime store budget?

Stop by Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake to see all of the innovative products from Hunter Douglas including Plantation Shutters, Silhouette Window Shadings, Duette Honeycomb Shades and more! Our designers will help you find the look that is perfect just for you. We will  show you the latest trends and the current styles and give you customized ideas for your whole home. 

Read Design services these area: Denton, Robson Ranch, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Wylie, Rockwall, Rowlett, Plano, Dallas, Highland Park, Lewisville, The Colony, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Colleyville, Fort Worth, Irving, Las Colinas, Southlake, Westlake, Trophy Club, Keller and everywhere in between!

blog credit: Wendy

Pantone Color Of The Year 2017

Introducing Greenery!

A refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings. 

Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. Illustrative of flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors, the fortifying attributes of Greenery signals consumers to take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.

Greenery is nature’s neutral. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront - it is an omnipresent hue around the world.

A life-affirming shade, Greenery is also emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality.

What is the PANTONE Color of the Year?

A symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude. 

Nature’s neutral, PANTONE Greenery is a versatile “trans-seasonal” shade that lends itself to many color combinations. As displayed in the 10 palettes below, Greenery is paired with neutrals, brights, deeper shades, pastels, metallics and even the enduring presence of PANTONE Color of the Year 2016, Rose Quartz and Serenity. These palettes easily cross over fashion, beauty, product and graphic design applications.

To find custom window treatments, wallpaper, pillows and more in this bright, energetic color call Read Design in Plano or in Southlake today! We service all of Dallas - Fort Worth including Richardson, Garland, Murphy, Sachse, Allen, Wylie, St. Paul, Rockwall, Rowlette, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm, Celina, Gunter, The Colony, Lewisville, Coppell, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Colleyville, Trophy Club, Southlake, Westlake, Flower Mound, Roanoke, Keller and everywhere in between. 

Blog by Pantone